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Mizzou got its first commitment for the 2026 class on Saturday with a verbal pledge from 4-star defensive tackle Anthony Kennedy Jr.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound talent out of Maumelle (Ark.) High has been a top target of the Tigers for a long time and has also made frequent visits to campus. Kennedy also held offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others.
Kennedy made 1 of his visits to Columbia to watch the Tigers beat Auburn on Oct. 19. That was Kennedy’s seventh total trip to Missouri’s campus, and Kennedy has reportedly built a tremendous relationship with Tigers defensive line coach Al Davis throughout his recruiting process. During the summer, Kennedy participated in 1 of the Tigers’ football camps, giving him a chance to work 1-on-1 with Davis.
Davis is also from Arkansas, which has only helped their relationship, and in 2026 Davis will get to work with Kennedy in Columbia.
Kennedy is the 328th-ranked player in the 2026 class, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the 41st-ranked defensive lineman and the sixth-ranked player from the state of Arkansas.
During his high school junior season, Kennedy recorded 23 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. You can see his highlight tape below, via Hudl:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
